Fire

There was a time in my life when I never thought I would ever be happy again. I resigned myself into the belief that because of the choices I had made, that I was now simply living with the consequences of that decision.

But now I know that this was a lie.

Isaiah 61: 1-4 tells us what God can do when we go through the fire:

To all who mourn in Israel, He will give BEAUTY for ASHES, JOY instead of MOURNING, PRAISE instead of DESPAIR. For the Lord has planted them like strong and GRACEFUL oaks for his own Glory!

If you look at each of the words that are in capitals, and dissect them, it gives you a picture of what God has planned for your life. If you are barely hanging on to any hope, it is my prayer, that as you read these comparisons, you will begin to have hope again too.

ASHES -symbolizing grief, repentance, humiliation
BEAUTY -exalting (lifting up) the mind and the spirit

MOURNING – The act of sorrowing (deep distress or regret) or grieving (pervasive distress). Co-dependency can cause another persons pain to affect you.
JOY – A sense of well being, success, good fortune.  To experience great pleasure and delight.

DESPAIR – To lose all hope or confidence.
PRAISE – The expression of respect and gratitude as an act of worship.

And after you have gone through the fire, God tells us that we will be planted like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory.

Graceful: A disposition of kindness, considerate, thoughtful.
Oak tree: Hard, durable wood used in construction
Glory:  Magnificence; great beauty, take great pride or pleasure in.

As you go through your journey, don’t allow the past to make you bitter. Learn from it, and allow God to heal and restore your life. I am a much kinder, considerate and thoughtful person than I was before my abuse. And even though I went through a great deal of pain, I am grateful for the person I have become.

What will you do with your fire? Will you live in ashes, mourning and despair? Or will you allow God to give you beauty, joy and praise….